Dutch broadcasters NOS and NTR will broadcast Eurovision 2026 from Vienna with a new commentary team, after AVROTROS withdrew from the contest over Israel’s participation and relinquished its long‑standing role.
The Netherlands will not participate in Eurovision 2026 in Vienna this year, but it will still send a commentary team to guide viewers at home through the live broadcasts. The Dutch broadcasters NOS and NTR, which will air the contest nationally, have confirmed that Henry Schut and Jeroen Kijk in de Vegte will serve as the new voices of the competition in the Netherlands, after the withdrawing broadcaster AVROTROS decided not to allow longtime commentator Cornald Maas to provide commentary for this year’s shows. Henry is a sports journalist best known for his coverage of major international sporting events in the Netherlands, while Jeroen is a presenter and radio personality; together, they will commentate on the contest live from the arena in Vienna, Austria
New Dutch commentary team
The pair shared their thoughts about this year’s contest in an interview with NU.nl, where they addressed the Dutch withdrawal and underlined that the decision to pull out of the competition was taken by AVROTROS, a choice they say they respect. At the same time, they stressed that the Netherlands has long been part of Eurovision and that it remains one of the biggest televised events in Europe, making it important to be present in the arena as observers.
“Of course we asked ourselves questions about the situation and about the decision to allow Israel to participate, but we are not the organizers of Eurovision. Our role is purely observational – the event is taking place anyway, and it is one of the biggest in Europe and perhaps in the world. Therefore, for us, it feels natural to be there. It does not mean that you are for or against anyone, but that you choose to report on what is happening”.
Henry Schut added that traveling to Vienna will enable them to provide a clearer picture of what is happening on site and to explain it better to viewers at home. In relation to the songs and performances, they emphasized that they intend to remain neutral and simply hope to be moved by the entries, the staging details, the dresses and even the wind machines that have become part of Eurovision’s visual language.
Dutch broadcaster’s official statement
“AVROTROS has decided not to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2026. This decision follows a careful and extensive deliberation process in which we consulted a broad range of stakeholders: from the Israeli ambassador to Amnesty International, from the EBU to several European public broadcasters, as well as our own Association Council, Works Council, Supervisory Board, and the many thousands of Eurovision fans who reached out to us. After weighing all perspectives, AVROTROS concludes that, under the current circumstances, participation cannot be reconciled with the public values that are fundamental to our organisation. This decision was taken in close coordination with the Dutch Public Broadcasting (NPO), which respects and supports the conclusions we have drawn”.
Review of the Process
“On 12 September 2025, AVROTROS noted that the severe humanitarian suffering in Gaza, the restrictions on press freedom, and the political interference surrounding the most recent edition of the Eurovision Song Contest were incompatible with the values we stand for. In that context, AVROTROS concluded that participation by the Israeli broadcaster KAN in this year could no longer be aligned with our responsibilities as a public broadcaster. Reliability, independence, and humanity are our guiding principles”.
EBU Response and Developments
“The EBU has acknowledged that political interference occurred during the previous edition and has announced additional measures to prevent a recurrence. However, these measures do not alter what happened during the last contest. Today, the General Assembly decided that Israel will be allowed to participate in 2026. At the same time, the meeting made clear that concerns about the neutrality and apolitical character of the Eurovision Song Contest remain significant among several European public broadcasters”.
Conclusion
“What unfolded over the past year, including the infringement of universal values such as humanity, press freedom, but also the political interference that occurred during the previous edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, crossed a boundary for us. That remains decisive for AVROTROS, regardless of the steps taken since. Additionally, the situation in Gaza remains extremely fragile and deeply concerning. At this moment, it is simply too early to speak of a substantial, stable improvement that would allow us to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in a way that aligns with our values”.
Statement from Taco Zimmerman, General Director of AVROTROS:
“This has not been an easy decision, nor one taken lightly. The Eurovision Song Contest is of great importance to us. Culture unites, but not at any price. What has happened over the past year has tested the limits of what we can uphold. Universal values such as humanity and press freedom have been seriously compromised, and for us, these values are non-negotiable. As a public broadcaster, we have a responsibility to remain true to our core values, even when that is difficult or sensitive.”
The Netherlands at Eurovision 2025
“C’est La Vie” is the title of the song performed by Claude, who represented the Netherlands at Eurovision 2025. The Netherlands qualified for the Grand Final after placing third in the first semi-final with 121 points. In the Grand Final, the Netherlands finished in 12th place with 175 points, with the jury awarding the country fifth place, but the public at home ranking it only 15th.
This year, the Netherlands participated in the Grand Final after two years of missing out. In 2023, Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper failed to qualify from the semi-final, while in 2024, Joost Klein was disqualified after the semi-final due to a violent incident involving the competition’s production team.
Eurovision 2025: This was the Netherlands’ 65th participation in Eurovision. The Netherlands joined the competition in 1956, was one of the seven founding countries, and has won it five times over the years. The Netherlands’ last victory was at Eurovision 2019 with the song “Arcade” performed by singer Duncan Laurence.
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Ido Na’aman is a journalist, content creator, and commentator specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. His extensive knowledge and in-depth familiarity with the Eurovision world are reflected in every article, ensuring reliable, professional, and up-to-date content.
